The United States government has introduced a firm new rule that stops its employees stationed in China from engaging in any romantic or sexual relationships with Chinese citizens. This directive affects American diplomats, their families, and contractors with security clearances working at the U.S. embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang, Wuhan, and Hong Kong. The policy was quietly rolled out in January 2025 and has now been confirmed by several anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
A Policy Born of Espionage Fears
According to reports, former U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns played a central role in putting the rule in place. The new policy comes after lawmakers and U.S. intelligence agencies voiced serious concerns over the risk of espionage. Some sources noted that “several members of Congress reached out to Burns and voiced worries that there wasn’t a policy in place that restricted such relationships with Chinese citizens.” In response, the policy was expanded to include all Chinese citizens regardless of their job or connection to the U.S. facilities.
This strict measure is seen as a way to protect sensitive government information. It is well known that Chinese intelligence services have a long history of using romantic relationships to gain access to American secrets. As one former CIA analyst, Peter Mattis, explained, “The state security ministry was willing to leverage any human connection that a target has to collect intelligence.” His comment emphasizes the real and growing threat that personal relationships can pose to national security.
A History of Non-Fraternization Rules
This new directive is not the first of its kind. During the Cold War, U.S. government employees in the Soviet Union and other communist countries were also forbidden from forming close personal relationships with local citizens. Those policies were created to prevent spies from using personal relationships to gather sensitive information. In a similar fashion, communist regimes like China and the Soviet Union had their own restrictions for personnel stationed abroad. For example, in China, military and government employees have long been forbidden from having romantic ties with foreigners, and they are required to obtain special permission before traveling overseas.
Historically, this type of rule has been seen as necessary to protect the interests of a nation. While U.S. government employees with security clearances have always been required to report “close and continuing” relationships with foreign nationals, the new directive removes any room for ambiguity. This policy has been in effect for a while in a more relaxed form, but recent developments have led to its full and strict enforcement.
Earlier, a watered-down version of the policy was put into effect during the summer of 2024. At that time, the restrictions were limited to relationships between U.S. personnel and Chinese support staff and guards at five consulates and the U.S. embassy. The new rule, however, expands the prohibition to include all relationships with Chinese citizens. Individuals who are already in such relationships must now choose between seeking an exemption or ending the relationship. If they are unable to secure the exemption, they will be required to leave China immediately. One report stated, “Individuals who violate the policy will be forced to leave China.”
Former Ambassador Burns is said to have taken these steps days before President Trump took office, indicating that the concerns over espionage and national security have been present for some time. His decision to act before the change in administration suggests that the risk was considered significant enough to warrant immediate action.
The Larger Context of U.S.-China Relations
This new policy is part of a broader set of measures that have been introduced as U.S.-China relations continue to deteriorate. Tensions have risen on many fronts, including trade disputes and military posturing in the region. For instance, President Trump recently announced a 54 percent tariff on Chinese imports as part of an aggressive trade initiative. These developments have contributed to an environment where national security concerns are at an all-time high.
The directive not only aims to protect classified information but also serves as a clear signal that the U.S. government is taking all possible steps to counter espionage. The Chinese government has its own strict rules for its staff, banning them from engaging in romantic relationships with foreign nationals. In this way, the new U.S. policy reflects a historical and ongoing rivalry between the two nations, where personal relationships are seen as potential vulnerabilities.
As U.S. government employees adjust to this new rule, many questions remain about its long-term impact on diplomatic relations in China. The policy reinforces a broader trend of increasing restrictions and oversight in the context of national security. It also serves as a reminder of the lengths governments will go to protect sensitive information. As one analyst pointed out, “This rule change suggests the MSS has gotten a lot more aggressive at trying to access the embassy and U.S. government.”
ACZ Editor: When you join government service for a assignment overseas, you give up certain freedoms in the name of security. In fact, in the intelligence services if you form a relationship with a foreign national – from ANY foreign country – and want to get married, you must sign your resignation, and your employeeing agency must decide whether to accept it.
